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Articles Tagged With: atrial

  • Echocardiographic Estimation of Left Atrial Pressure in Atrial Fibrillation Patients

    A study of patients undergoing catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation with periprocedural echocardiograms and directly measured left atrial pressure (LAP) has shown that mean LAP can be estimated with a high degree of accuracy by a hierarchical algorithm using three Doppler echocardiographic parameters.

  • Left Atrial vs. Left Ventricular Parameters for Intervention Decisions

    A one-institution study of serial echocardiograms in patients with moderate to severe or severe aortic regurgitation demonstrated that changes in left atrial size and strain changed over time in a similar fashion regardless of sex and age, and were of incremental prognostic value compared to left ventricular size and function.

  • Arterial Ischemic Stroke: Mechanisms and Management

    Stroke is a common problem, affecting nearly 800,000 people annually in the United States and serving as a leading cause of significant long-term disability. This article begins with a brief discussion of stroke epidemiology and then provides an overview of the various stroke mechanisms, setting a framework for which to consider etiology-specific stroke management.

  • Arterial Ischemic Stroke Prevention and Risk Factor Management

    Stroke prevention is complex because of the varied stroke etiologies and the multifactorial approach necessary for optimal stroke prevention and risk factor management. Inevitably, primary care providers will be part of every aspect of stroke care and, with a thorough understanding of key aspects, can greatly assist in the management of these patients.

  • What Device-Detected Atrial Fibrillation Burden Reveals About Stroke Risk

    In a retrospective analysis of electronic health record data matched with remote pacemaker and implantable cardioverter-defibrillator recordings of atrial fibrillation episodes, a threshold daily arrhythmia burden portending higher stroke risk was determined over a range of CHA2DS2-VASc scores.

  • A ‘Normal’ Initial ECG?

    The ECG in the figure was obtained from a 30-year-old man who was admitted to the hospital to “rule out myocardial infarction.” His symptoms of chest discomfort were thought to be atypical and unlikely to be due to a cardiac etiology. His initial ECG (not shown) was interpreted as normal. Evaluation, including serial troponins and stress testing, were deemed normal. Before sending the patient home, the ECG in the figure was obtained.

  • Can One Be Certain About the Rhythm Diagnosis?

    The 12-lead ECG and long lead II rhythm strip in the figure was obtained from a patient who was hemodynamically stable. What is the rhythm in the figure? Why can one be virtually certain what the rhythm diagnosis is before attempting a vagal maneuver or using medication?

  • Smartwatches for the Diagnosis of Atrial Fibrillation

  • Anticoagulation Decisions in Atrial Fibrillation

    Using the Delphi method of arriving at a consensus among clinicians concerning to whom with atrial fibrillation to recommend oral anticoagulants, the risk of stroke, the risk of hemorrhage, and patient-specific factors emerged. Many of these factors are not included in the guidelines and should be studied further.

  • Evidence-Based Management of Arrhythmic Medications for the Emergency Department

    Medications are frequently used in the emergency department to help restore conduction of normal cardiac electrophysiology. This article will briefly review arrhythmias and discuss commonly used and new medications with their indications, side effect profile, and contraindications to use.